There are things in life that are appropriate for laughing at, and there are others that remain off-limits.
One of the ways that art manages to make people more comfortable with some of the less pleasant aspects of being alive is by finding ways that viewers can find a bit of humor and feel a bit less uncomfortable.
It was the main reason for a show like "Six Feet Under" to succeed so admirably on HBO, the chance for viewers sitting in front of HDTV sets and watching an hour on death to see the lighter sides of some aspects of the human condition.
Successfully pulling this off is one of the main goals that directors who want to do more than just depress the living daylights out of their audiences are striving for when it comes to making content that can sometimes feel as affirming as it feels heartbreaking.
After all, there's a whole lot more to life than just the good moments, and sometimes finding a new spin to put on a sad inevitable truth makes it something more palatable for those who aren't in the mood for something deep.
While Showtime's television line-up is nothing if not interested in pushing the limits of satellite tv, their latest addition is a show that might manage to truly change the art of writing for television while captivating audiences with strong characters and great writing just the same.
As the biggest show to premiere on Showtime in eight entire years, viewers are already buzzing, and the premium channel is enjoying a rebirth in pertinence after last year's lackluster season of "Weeds" and a general downswing, despite the best attempts of smart television like "Nurse Jackie" and "The United States of Tara.
" Starring Laura Linney as a woman who is frequently too busy taking care of everything else in life but who suddenly has to deal with a recent diagnosis of terminal cancer, the story behind "The Big C" seems like the kind of heavy material that might turn off many satellite tv viewers who aren't as interested in watching something so heavy.
But the fact is that with an actress as capable as Linney at the helm and some seriously strong writing, "The Big C" has the chance to not harp on the sadder moments of the enviable course of action that the show must take, and rather focus on dealing with the same tropes that many Showtime shows tackle: the world of the living, with its surprisingly annoying, childlike spouses and stressful busywork.
And with surprisingly choices in casting, including Gabourey Sidibe from "Precious," there are a lot of smart and brave choices being made across the board as far as the show is concerned.
With "The Big C" already drawing huge audiences and satellite tv viewers willing to get invested after finding out that the plan is to keep seasons focused on shorter amounts of time, meaning that if the show takes off, it can keep going without having to change the ending, this is a completely new approach to a cerebral and witty drama.
Showtime seems to have knocked it out of the park once again, and it appears that the show is destined for greatness, even with only a few episodes under its belt.